The Plight of the Homosexual

Ok, I know I'm about to make a lot of people mad with this one...but so be it. And here we go...

I just got done reading a report about the House voting to end the ban on gays in the military by repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" law, and after this being the umpteenth year of hearing about the "homosexual plight" I have to say that I am really tired of hearing about all of the endless news reports about how the LGBT community is rallying for this right or rallying for that right because they feel that they should be recognized by the federal government for everything that everybody else gets. Well, if that's the case then maybe thieves, murderers and drug addicts should be rallying for their rights as well. I mean, it's all relative right?



People, it's time to start calling a spade a spade. Homosexuality is wrong and it's not wrong because I said it's wrong, it's wrong because God said it was wrong just like He said killing, stealing and lying were wrong. The foundation of the United States was based on the principals of God's Word (the Bible) and that's just what it is. No ifs, ands or buts about it.  Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for that very thing! So to constantly see people rallying for gay rights is a farce, and a slap in the face to the Biblical principals that this country was founded upon.

It would be laughable to see crack heads marching in front of the White House rallying for the right to indulge in the act of shooting up whenever the mood hits, so why is it ok to rally for national acceptance of sexual immorality? Think about it. Yes, what people do behind closed doors is ultimately between them and God and it's not for anyone else to judge another on how they choose to live their life, but when you cross that threshold of living out your personal choices to trying to push those choices on the masses that is a whole different story.

A person choosing to be gay is between them and God just like a person choosing to be a thief is between that person and God, but make no mistake, wrong is wrong and everyone will be judged accordingly. So for the church and government to try to keep making amends to appease everything and everyone, it only stands to lead to the total downfall of everything noble that this country was built upon.

Let me be clear, I am not bashing gay people. I believe that gay people struggle with a spiritual matter and should be prayed for.  I have people in my life who I love very much who struggle with homosexuality, but while I do not judge them I do not support their lifestyle, and I continue to lift them up in prayer as we agree to disagree. It's not about personal choice, it's about the difference between right and wrong.

So at the end of the day, "don't ask, don't tell" should not be repealed because wrong is wrong and it shouldn't be worn as a badge of honor.  It's time to get back to standing for something and stop trying to be "politically" correct all the time.  After all, if you look over the last few decades, where has "political correctness" gotten us?

Now that the ACLU has been able to get God all but taken out of the schools, more murders among young people have taken place. Now that the push for separation of God and state has been pushed to the limit, the American government is slowly but surely becoming weaker and weaker in it's ranking among the other national powers as our economy slowly crumbles.

The end of this story has already been written, so it's important that we recognize the sign of the times for what they are. Just read Revelations. But while the outcome is already known, we still need to be about the business of building God's kingdom and spreading His Word, and His word says that homosexuality is wrong. Plain and simple.

Some words are hard to say, and some are even harder to hear but from my heart to your ears they are always spoken in love.

Be blessed.

www.black-smithenterprises.com
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No Mas For Kwame

A judge has sentenced former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to up to 5 years in prison for violating his probation in connection with restitution payments stemming from previous charges. This is no laughing matter, it is in fact a very sad situation.

For those who don't know the original story, Kwame was sentenced to 120 days in jail, of which he only served 99, for obstruction of justice and lying in court under oath about his relationship with his former Chief-of-Staff, Christine Beatty. As a result of this, he was ordered by the court to pay $1 million dollars in restitution to the City of Detroit.

Now fast forward to 2010. After getting off with basically a slap on the wrist for the charges he was charged with he then went on to move to Texas to work and raise his family. Nothing wrong with that. But in the midst of him continuing his life in Texas, he still had an obligation to repay his debt to Detroit; the city that he basically used as his personal bank account.

Not only did Kwame go to Texas and "rent" a house that was worth more than $1 million dollars, he also funneled exorbitant amounts of money into an account for his wife. Then he decided of his own volition to decrease his required monthly restitution payments because he claimed that he couldn't afford to pay $6,000 a month. The mockery doesn't stop there.

The court then ordered him to appear for a probation hearing, and in those hearings Kilpatrick was arrogant, self-righteous, argumentative and made a point to try to outwit the court with double talk at every turn when he was asked about his financial situation and where he was getting large sums of money from.

Now today when he stood before the judge who held the fate of his future in the palm of his hand, he chose to be humble and sincere. Too little, too late.

Let's be clear, no one is perfect and it is not for us to judge anyone else. But pride always comes before a fall. God's word says it and His word is not mocked. Maybe if Kwame would have humbled himself in this situation and did what he was supposed to do instead of trying to be clever in thinking that he is above the law, perhaps things may have turned out a little differently for him. I mean, you don't see Christine Beatty living out a Cribs lifestyle in ATL. She is living below the radar, and apparently doing what she's supposed to do to stay out of prison.

Humility is the lesson that people should walk away from this situation with. If you don't humble yourself, God will definitely find a way to do it for you. To err is human, but to own up to your mistakes and do what is required to make it right is called being a grown up.

It's unfortunate that now due to their father's arrogance, his children will now have to live a big chunk of time without their father; their provider. The prisons are already too full of promising Black men who should be actively helping to shape the destinies of their children, but instead they are buried behind mountains of concrete walls wishing that they had done things just a little differently.

Is 5 years too much? I think so, but at the end of the day none of our opinions really amount to much of anything. 

Pray for Kwame, pray for Kwame's children and pray that someone will learn from his mistakes without having to walk the same path that has already been beaten by so many other promising people.

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High Heals: Bad for Your Sexy

Ladies, as much as we love to strut our stuff in those 6-inch stilettos that make our calves look oh-so-lovely and allow us to accentuate that subtle swing in our hips, it's true that look you love could be bad for you in more ways than one.

For me, being the eternal Tom-boy at heart, I don't understand how some women can sport heels as everyday, all day, footwear for shopping, dancing, lounging or whatever. I'm mean, sure I wear heels just like any other woman to complete my going out wears, but trust, after about an hour I'm stomping around like a horse with a thumb tack in its hoof...it's not pretty.

Anyway, since I have decided in my more mature years that I simply refuse to be uncomfortable for the sake of looking good, I thought I would share some of my research with my fellow woman-kind.

1- Constant wearing of high heels over a long period of time (years) can cause your ligaments to become inflamed. It can also cause your Achilles tendon to shorten thereby making it difficult to walk normal when not in heels.

2- Cramming your foot into those pointy shoes can cause bunions, corns, hammertoes, and ingrown toenails. (I threw up in my mouth a little just looking at those.)

3- Due to the unnatural way you have to stand in heels, it forces you to make adjustments to how you stand and balance yourself. This causes bad posture which in turn can lead to lower back and leg pain.

4- In addition to the above listed conditions, according to www.personalhealthzone.com, wearing heels puts extra strain on the knee joints and tendons that run from the thigh to the knee cap due to the thigh muscles having to work harder.

They stated that over time the increased pressure on the knees can lead to osteoarthritis, which develops when the cartilage at the end of bones and joints wears away. And if you know like I know by living vicariously through grandparents and other elder relatives, arthritis of any kind is painful.

So at the end of the day, you have to ask yourself: Is it really worth it? I think not; especially with all the other alternatives that are available.


Even after saying all of that, I'm sure some of you will gladly suffer in silence for the thrill of having the privilege of rocking the latest Prada, Gucci, or D&G slingbacks or stilettos, but not the kid!

Me, I'll be happily running the streets in my flats, gym shoes, and sandals. So while I may be suga-sharp from my head to my ankles, rest assured your girl will be quite alright with the sideways glances because guess what...I'll be comfortable.

Contrary to popular belief, beauty does know pain and at the end of the day sometimes it's just not worth it.

Be blessed and stay healthy.

www.black-smithenterprises.com
Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/janayablack

Taking Lives- Detroit, Stand Up!

Violence is taking lives and no one seems pressed to do anything about it. Drug dealers stake claim on neighborhoods and conduct business as usual as citizens fearfully turn a blind eye, misguided youth terrorize and rob the elderly and the police continue to drop the ball when it comes to effectively responding to crime in the city.

The latest story about Ayana Jones, the 7-year-old girl who was shot and killed as a result of a raid gone wrong, is a blaring example of the testament that we have got to do better.



According to reports, the police went to the home that this young girl was shot in with a valid search warrant to arrest a suspect in connection with another murder that occurred only a few days prior, and due to the violent nature of the original crime they used a stun grenade to enter the home. During this course of action somehow one of the officers got into a "confrontation" with someone in the house and the gun "supposedly" went off thereby killing this innocent young girl.

Now granted, we don't yet know all of the circumstances surrounding this case and far be it for me to try to speculate. Obviously the circumstances that ultimately led the cops to this place of residence in the first place were very valid, but the fact still remains that another innocent life was lost.

Is it fair to place 100% of the blame on the police for doing their job by trying to find the suspect in another murder? Maybe the ending of the tragic story could have been different if the individuals involved in the first murder had the common sense not to look to violence as the only option for solving their problems. Maybe if someone in their live(s) would have taken the time to be interested in their achievement or paid closer attention to who they were hanging out with, perhaps this story would never have come to be.

But as fate would have it, the person responsible for killing a 17-year-old boy in front of a party store is now also responsible for the death of a 7-year-old girl, who was accidentally shot during a raid that was meant especially for him.

Now the city of Detroit cries out in outrage; and justifiably so. Yes, Detroit, we need to do better. We need fathers to step up and raise their boys to be men and not thugs. We need mothers to stop protecting their baby boys who have grown to be thugs and start holding them accountable for their actions instead of coddling them. We need authorities to provide viable options for parents who reach out to them for preventative measures before they get out of hand. We need to go back to the concept of it taking a village to raise a child, because now that child that has no village is growing up to become a holy terror.

Violence in our city is taking too many lives, and we can no longer sit idly by and accept this as just another day in the "D". We are not the bad city that everyone else perceives us to be and it's high time that we begin to become the change that we want to see.

Rep your city Detroit. The number of those who stand for right far outnumbers those who seek to bring us down. Much prayer is needed.

Peace and blessings to the family of young Ayana Jones.

www.black-smithenterprises.com
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Rules of Engagement for Radio

Recently, I had a chance to sit down with Cheron Mans, who is an on-air personality, as well as the music and assistant program director at Detroit's hottest urban station, WJLB FM 98. And during our discussion I got a chance to gain a lot of insight as to how the world of radio really works with respect why certain artists get played and others don't.

Much to my surprise, and contrary to popular belief, there is actually a method to the business of selecting which songs get airplay. And being the dedicated artist advocate that I am, I wanted to share that information with those aspiring artists who feel that radio just isn't showing them any love.

So here it is...do with it what you will.

Janaya Black: With all of your titles what do your duties entail?


Cheron Mans: Well, as far as middays, I’m responsible for doing my best to be number one during midday 18-34, which we’re doing really well. Thanks to the city, of course. So my job is to hold down the midday shift from 10-2pm.

As far as music directing, basically I listen to music that’s submitted for airplay, make sure that clean edits are played on the radio, and I meet with record reps every week and they let me know what new music is out.


As far as APD, my job is to assist in the everyday dealings with the station, whether it be working with sales, working with talent, signing off on time cards, or assisting with the day to day that has to do with the station.


JB: How did you get into radio?


CM: I got into radio when I was in college at MSU in Lansing and I was studying engineering. I was really good in math and science in high school, and pretty good in college but I didn’t really want to do it. So, I kind of hit a cross-roads where I was trying to figure out what I really wanted to do and it was really, really difficult.


But long story short, like I said I’m from Lansing and the owner from the station there (the only urban station in Lansing at QHH), she goes to my church and she always supported me in Girl Scouts and Debutants and everything else, and she always told me if you ever need any help let me know. So I called her and told her my dilemma and she said that she may be able to hook me up with an internship and that she would give me a call the next day. She called that same day and offered me an internship to do news.


To make a long story even shorter, I started interning, I became a news director, co-hosted the morning show and Reggie Reg heard me on the radio in Lansing and he got me to do traffic here at WJLB. I then went on to do Quiet Storm and now middays.


JB: Your climb up the ladder; was it a tough one or was it a natural progression of things?


CM: Well, everybody has a different story. I’ve heard of jocks saying that they’ve slept in their cars, they’ve been to 12 different stations, they may have been at one station in their hometown and ended up getting an opportunity at a bigger station. I feel like even though I’ve had set backs throughout my career, I feel like I have continuously grown through it all. I’ve seen people come and go and I’m just really grateful to be in the business that I love. So I think it was somewhat of a progression. I can’t say it was easy, but I learned a lot along the way. So, I’m very pleased with it.


JB: In the 10 years you’ve been doing radio I’m sure you’ve seen a lot of shift with the way that things are done in radio because jocks had more control over what they wanted to play. What is your outlook on that?


CM: Well, I know when I first started I first started off in news and I started off in a small market. I know when I did go on the air I couldn’t control what we played or what I played. I don’t really know radio in that world where jocks chose their music.


But as far as it changing, it has changed but I think I recognized more of the change being on the side of being a manager and seeing how music gets selected. It’s a formula to why one song is played after the other and there’s a specific reason why. It’s not just because the PD puts it on the radio because that’s what he or she wants to hear. We do a lot of research on music that we do play.


Now we do have certain features, like Darius does Unsigned Hype and he does choose the song that plays. And What’s Next on the Menu with TJ, which I’m very proud to say that we have a whole hour dedicated to Detroit music.


Our mixers have the most freedom; they’re their own program directors. They play what they want to play. But as far as it changing, it’s always been that way since I’ve been in radio. Music was selected and it was programmed before the jock even hit the mic.


JB: I know you have local artists that come up to you all the time wanting to know how it works. How do you explain the process?


CM: That part is really tough because in this city we have a lot of talent. Although everybody claims to be hot, not everybody can possible be hot. So it’s best to put your best foot forward, and know the process, and know protocol.


Proper protocol would be you have to create your own hype because you have to remember that at the end of the day, the radio station is a business. I’m happy and so proud that we do the Unsigned Hype with Darius every single weekday, mixers play a lot of local music, we have local music in regular rotation, and we dedicate an hour on Saturday for that just to get it exposed. Now once it’s exposed it’s really up to that artist to really create hype around their song so that we have no choice but to play it. But we can’t play everything. So we do our best to keep our ear to the street to find out what really is hot.


Also when you do submit music for airplay you have to be serious about it because we can only do so much. We can play your song but if you’re not putting in the work to promote it, we would rather be behind someone who’s really serious and really plans on either getting a deal or whatever their plan is. But you have to have a plan.


JB: How does it make you feel when you hear people compare Detroit to Atlanta with respect to them feeling like Detroit radio does not support their own?


CM: I don’t understand how anybody can really say that. I can’t speak on anyone else, I can only speak on what we do, but I think we really do a good job, probably more than others, on exposing Detroit music in the ways that I just outlined.


It’s not even just about Detroit music. We can’t play unfamiliar or new records all day anyway. That’s why you only hear 1 or 2 new records an hour. Whether it be a national or someone who’s from Detroit. When you play a lot of unfamiliar music it turns people off. People turn the radio on to hear their favorite songs. That’s why it’s even more important for someone who doesn’t have the marketing and promotional backing that a national artist would have to make sure that they do the best they can to create a buzz, because you may think that everybody knows you because you have 500 people at your shows and they’re all singing along, but we’re talking about millions of people.


JB: What advice do you have for aspiring radio personnel?


CM: I would say get on your grind because the jobs are limited and shrinking. But that’s not to discourage anybody because if I can do it, anybody can do it. I would say experience is everything. Networking is everything. So if you can get an internship do so, and when you get an internship show up on time, dress appropriately, and even work when you’re not scheduled. If you see a story that can help that jock that you’re working for, send it in so you can be a standout because that’s a really good way to get into the business; by having an internship and then hopefully being around when a position becomes available because nine times out of ten, that’s how you really get in, especially when you’re talking a bigger market like Detroit. It’s difficult to get into a big market with no experience. The other alternative would be to go to a smaller market to get a start and come back to a larger market.


JB: What is the motto that you live your life by?


CM: Do onto others as you would have them do unto you. You don’t want this business, or certain things, to change you. You always have to remember who you are no matter what you do.

Cheron can be heard weekdays from 10am-2pm on FM WJLB and you can follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/CheronOnAir.

www.black-smithenterprises.com
Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/janayablack

Iron Man 2 Review

I have been waiting anxiously for Iron Man 2 to come out since I saw the first trailer previews back in January (respectively), and I finally got to go see it on Mother's Day.  Needless to say that this was truly one of those cases when expectation exceeded the actual experience.

Now, before I go any further let's be clear...I'm not saying that I didn't enjoy the movie. It just wasn't the cataclysmic euphoria of action packed adventure that I had been anticipating.

 

This installment of the Iron Man series starred the deliciously sexy Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark, and this time around he is the same arrogant narcissistic ego maniac that we all knew and loved, but now he has a new set of problems to face. One of which includes the son of a disgraced former collaborator of his late father's company, Ivan Vanko, who has sworn to avenge his father by any means necessary.

Then on top of that, in the wake of Iron Man bringing negotiated peace to the world, the government, under the urging of self-serving weapons expert Justin Hammer, is now seeking to take ownership of Stark's Iron Man technology under the guise of national security, and true to his character he tells them, in his own Stark-esque way, that under no circumstances will he turn over his invention.

And not to mention that in the midst of all this Tony also finds out that the palladium element in the arc reactor that he needs to keep his heart beating is slowly killing him.

So, as you can see...there's a lot going on in this film. To make a long story short, the government some how gets their hands on his Iron Man technology, teams up with the new nemesis, and then the story begins to take off from there.

Without giving away the entire film, I will say that while the powers-that-be did a good job bringing all the plot points of the movie together, but it really felt like they took a long time doing it. For all the fireworks, explosions and fight scenes you see in the trailer, I really felt a little cheated when it was all said and done.

Now, I do have to give it up to Scarlett Johansson, who played Natalie Rushman/Black Widow; she was BAD! Loved, loved, LOVED her! She straight wasn't hold 'em up on those fight scenes. Would love to see more from her in the action movie genre. She was very believable.

 

Samuel L. Jackson was plausible as Nick Fury, but his role was not all that impactful this time around.

Don Cheadle did not sell me in his role as Lt. Colonel James Rhodes (who was also played by Terrence Howard), who also ended up being Iron Man's sidekick. While I usually love Don Cheadle movies and view him as a very good actor, he was just a little too soft spoken for me to come across as a believable military man with the chops to pull off the superhero motif.  But that's just me. FYI- I don't think Terrence Howard could have pulled that off either.

But overall, the movie was enjoyable, but like I said I had built it up so much in my mind that I left the theater feeling a little disappointed.  So at the end of the day, I give Iron Man 2 a solid B+.


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Motherhood

Motherhood has taught me a lot of things. Among them are the facts that I am impervious to being peed, thrown up and bled on; my tolerance for noise, dirt and having to share EVERYTHING I even think about putting in my mouth is much higher than I ever thought it could ever be; my parents were geniuses; and my capacity to love is far greater than any amount of anything that could ever be measured by human standards.

Being a mother has made me understand just how blessed I am to have had two amazing women in my life that I call mother: my birth mother and my step mother. Both women have played a pivotal role in the woman that I have become and they have taught me what it is to be a woman who understands the true meaning of what it is to carry the title of "mother".

Motherhood means sacrifice. Mother means worrying. Motherhood means being leery of everything and everyone that crosses her child's path. Motherhood means running out to buy last minute supplies for projects that are due tomorrow that you just heard about today. Motherhood means not being able to go to the bathroom without having someone sticking their little fingers under the door or banging on it to see if you're almost finished.

Motherhood means seeing the anger in your child's eyes when you tell them no, and being strong enough to endure it because you know that at the end of the day you're saving them a lot more hurt than they are bestowing upon you with their angry silence. Motherhood means knowing when to push and when to give them space to become their own person. Motherhood means loving unconditionally.

Through laughter, lessons, tears, disappointments and everything in between motherhood is the foundation of each and every life on this earth. One's relationship with their mother is all encompassing of so many other things in life, that it shapes the course of who that child will ultimately become. Motherhood is a thing to be cherished, recognized and appreciated.

So with that being said I want to thank my mothers for the sacrifices that they have made for my life. Through the ups and the downs, the back talk and the know-it-allness that was I; they are all that I have ever needed them to be and more, and I want them to know how much I love and appreciate them.

As for my journey with this thing called motherhood, I pray that God will bless me with the wisdom and strength I need to be as much of a blessing to my children as my mothers have been to me.

Happy Mother's Day to all you hard-working, tireless, driven and beautiful women out there! Enjoy your day and remember...you don't have to share your food on Mother's Day because it's your special day. Tell them to get their own plate!

Blessings!

www.black-smithenterprises.com
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Your 5 Minute Guide to a Successful Marriage

Ok, so since I've been married for 14 years (and happily so), I feel that I have some good information to share with the masses. Not that I'm an expert, but I think that my experience could really be helpful to someone out there in cyber world.

So in keeping with my forte for keeping things short and sweet, I am going to hit on the 6 major things that I believe can make all the difference between a happy marriage and a miserable one.  Here we go:

1. Put God first- This is the most important thing that it seems like people forget the most. When couples get married they get so wrapped up in themselves and their wants and needs that they forget to invite God into their union. That's why divorce is so rampant today. When you get married you stand before a pastor and recite your vows before God and then leave Him on the doorstep until something goes wrong. If you allow Him to guide you, your relationship and your household you will find that many of the other things will fall into place.

2. Communication- Not to sound cliche, but communication is basis for every relationship; spouses, friends, family, co-workers, etc... You have to know how to effectively express yourself to other people. Especially your spouse. And communication is not just talking, it involves listening as well. After you have had your say, you then need to close your mouth and LISTEN to what the other person has to say. You may or may not like it, but the fact still remains that you need to let them express themselves so that your relationship can flourish. When couples stop communicating that gives way to a bunch of other problems.

Just remember that women are emotional and men are not mind readers- you figure it out from there.

2. Trust- This one is a no-brainer. If you and your boo don't trust each other, you're pretty much doomed from the jump. Trust is a very fragile thing and once it's been broken it's very hard to rebuild. So here's my rule of thumb for maintaining the trust factor- DO NOT PUT YOURSELF IN BAD/COMPROMISING SITUATIONS!

For example, I work in the entertainment industry so I am always around people of the opposite sex. Due to that fact I never want my husband to have a reason to feel any kind of way about anything I may or may not be doing while I'm out and about, I do simple things like making sure that I answer my phone when he calls or calling just to let him know that everything's cool if I'm out late. Little considerate things like that go a long way in keeping his confidence in me. And visa versa.

4. Make time to do things together-  Life happens and people get busy, so it takes real effort to spend time together.  Set aside time everyday to spend some 1-on-1 quality time with your spouse. This will keep you from growing apart and allowing other temptations to set in.

And be open minded! Don't be afraid to try new things. Allowing your marriage to become monotonous and predictable is dangerous. Spontaneity is a good thing, don't be afraid of it. Ladies, if he asks you to do something a little more risque than usual (if it's not completely off the wall), humor him.  Who knows you may be surprised; you might like it.  Fellas, if she asks you to help clean up the house, why not lend a hand? If she's not completely exhausted at the end of the day that could only work out in your favor.  

5. Learn to value your space- As much as togetherness is important in a marriage, couples also have to have room to breathe. Having different hobbies and pastimes help keep you both from feeling smothered by each other. There is nothing wrong with having a life outside of your spouse. Learn to value your "me" time and know when it's time to come back together.

6. Understand your role- Men and women need to have a clear understanding of the role that they play in a relationship. That means, ladies, no man wants to be the female in the relationship. In this day and age we have become so independent in our lifestyles that we have forgotten how to let men be men. We need to learn how to fall back sometimes and let him do what God put him here to do: lead and take care of his family.

By the same token, fellas, no woman is going to fall in line and allow herself to be led by a weak man. And that's not to say that women are subservient and need to be led by a man to be happy, I'm just saying that deep down inside most women want a man who can make her feel like a woman by sacrificing for her happiness, working hard to take care of her and make her feel secure, and knowing when, and how, to take charge.  Chivalry is not dead.

Being that I was only 18 when I got married, I had a lot to learn about how to be in a relationship. But fortunately my husband is a great communicator (and if you know him you know I'm not lying), and he taught me a lot, and by the grace of God our journey together has translated into going on 15 years of a loving relationship.

Yes, we get on each other's nerves, but at the end of the day we love and respect each other and we value what we have in each other.  And we believe that it's worth fighting for every single day.

Marriage is not hard. It's work, but it's not hard if you're willing to put yourself aside long enough to do what's best for your relationship.

That is all for now.

www.black-smithenterprises.com
Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/janayablack

Say a Little Prayer for Whitney

Once upon a time, Whitney Houston was considered one of the best singers of all time. She was definitely one of my favorites. Her voice was flawless and powerful as she effortlessly belted out songs like The Greatest Love of All and I Will Always Love You, and the world was her oyster.

Now fast forward to 2010.  When I saw this video of Whitney struggling through one of the biggest hit songs of all time (a song that solidified her as force not to be trifled with when it came down to vocal ability), my heart truly ached for her.



Sadly enough, people will laugh and make jokes about this but it really is not a laughing matter. This woman has struggled with an addiction that has ultimately stripped her of her God-given talent.  Yes, her decisions are what have driven her to this point in her life, but I really believe that she has been trying her best to get her life back on track despite her addiction and in the wake of a failed marriage while trying to raise her daughter.

Whitney Houston does not need media scrutiny and heckling, she needs the support and prayers of her family, friends and fans just like anyone else who was facing the same struggles would need.  Her fame doesn't make her any different.

So while the media continues to have a field day with the public unraveling of a woman who at one time brought joy to millions with her voice, maybe you could search yourself for some compassion and say a little prayer for her.

It is times like these that should make us really examine the things that we put people on pedestals for.  Entertainers are fun to watch, but at the end of the day, they are human beings just like you and me. 

Be blessed.

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